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feel Edward's relief at my side。
Esme smiled and stepped forward as well； reaching for my hand。 Her cold；
stone grasp was just as I expected。
〃It's very nice to know you；〃 she said sincerely。
〃Thank you。 I'm glad to meet you； too。〃 And I was。 It was like meeting a
fairy tale — Snow White； in the flesh。
〃Where are Alice and Jasper？〃 Edward asked； but no one answered； as they
had just appeared at the top of the wide staircase。
〃Hey； Edward！〃 Alice called enthusiastically。 She ran down the stairs； a
streak of black hair and white skin； ing to a sudden and graceful stop
in front of me。 Carlisle and Esme shot warning glances at her； but I
liked it。 It was natural — for her； anyway。
〃Hi； Bella！〃 Alice said； and she bounced forward to kiss my cheek。 If
Carlisle and Esme had looked cautious before； they now looked staggered。
There was shock in my eyes； too； but I was also very pleased that she
seemed to approve of me so entirely。 I was startled to feel Edward
stiffen at my side。 I glanced at his face； but his expression was
unreadable。
〃You do smell nice； I never noticed before；〃 she mented； to my extreme
embarrassment。
No one else seemed to know quite what to say； and then Jasper was there —
tall and leonine。 A feeling of ease spread through me； and I was suddenly
fortable despite where I was。 Edward stared at Jasper； raising one
eyebrow； and I remembered what Jasper could do。
〃Hello； Bella；〃 Jasper said。 He kept his distance； not offering to shake
my hand。 But it was impossible to feel awkward near him。
〃Hello； Jasper。〃 I smiled at him shyly； and then at the others。 〃It's
nice to meet you all — you have a very beautiful home；〃 I added
conventionally。
〃Thank you；〃 Esme said。 〃We're so glad that you came。〃 She spoke with
feeling； and I realized that she thought I was brave。
I also realized that Rosalie and Emmett were nowhere to be seen； and I
remembered Edward's tooinnocent denial when I'd asked him if the others
didn't like me。
Carlisle's expression distracted me from this train of thought； he was
gazing meaningfully at Edward with an intense expression。 Out of the
corner of my eye； I saw Edward nod once。
I looked away； trying to be polite。 My eyes wandered again to the
beautiful instrument on the platform by the door。 I suddenly remembered
my childhood fantasy that； should I ever win a lottery； I would buy a
grand piano for my mother。 She wasn't really good — she only played for
herself on our secondhand upright — but I loved to watch her play。 She
was happy； absorbed — she seemed like a new； mysterious being to me then；
someone outside the 〃mom〃 persona I took for granted。 She'd put me
through lessons； of course； but like most kids； I whined until she let me
quit。
Esme noticed my preoccupation。
〃Do you play？〃 she asked； inclining her head toward the piano。
I shook my head。 〃Not at all。 But it's so beautiful。 Is it yours？〃
〃No；〃 she laughed。 〃Edward didn't tell you he was musical？〃
〃No。〃 I glared at his suddenly innocent expression with narrowed eyes。 〃I
should have known； I guess。〃
Esme raised her delicate eyebrows in confusion。
〃Edward can do everything； right？〃 I explained。
Jasper snickered and Esme gave Edward a reproving look。
〃I hope you haven't been showing off— it's rude；〃 she scolded。
〃Just a bit；〃 he laughed freely。 Her face softened at the sound； and they
shared a brief look that I didn't understand； though Esme's face seemed
almost smug。
〃He's been too modest； actually；〃 I corrected。
〃Well； play for her；〃 Esme encouraged。
〃You just said showing off was rude；〃 he objected。
〃There are exceptions to every rule；〃 she replied。
〃I'd like to hear you play；〃 I volunteered。
〃It's settled then。〃 Esme pushed him toward the piano。 He pulled me
along； sitting me on the bench beside him。
He gave me a long； exasperated look before he turned to the keys。
And then his fingers flowed swiftly across the ivory； and the room was
filled with a position so plex； so luxuriant； it was impossible to
believe only one set of hands played。 I felt my chin drop； my mouth open
in astonishment； and heard low chuckles behind me at my reaction。
Edward looked at me casually； the music still surging around us without a
break； and winked。 〃Do you like it？〃
〃You wrote this？〃 I gasped； understanding。
He nodded。 〃It's Esme's favorite。〃
I closed my eyes； shaking my head。
〃What's wrong？〃
〃I'm feeling extremely insignificant。〃
The music slowed； transforming into something softer； and to my surprise
I detected the melody of his lullaby weaving through the profusion of
notes。
〃You inspired this one；〃 he said softly。 The music grew unbearably sweet。
I couldn't speak。
〃They like you； you know；〃 he said conversationally。 〃Esme especially。〃
I glanced behind me； but the huge room was empty now。
〃Where did they go？〃
〃Very subtly giving us some privacy； I suppose。〃
I sighed。 〃They like me。 But Rosalie and Emmett…〃 I trailed off； not sure
how to express my doubts。
He frowned。 〃Don't worry about Rosalie；〃 he said； his eyes wide and
persuasive。 〃She'll e around。〃
I pursed my lips skeptically。 〃Emmett？〃
〃Well； he thinks I'm a lunatic； it's true； but he doesn't have a problem
with you。 He's trying to reason with Rosalie。〃
〃What is it that upsets her？〃 I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the
answer。
He sighed deeply。 〃Rosalie struggles the most with… with what we are。
It's hard for her to have someone on the outside know the truth。 And
she's a little jealous。〃
〃Rosalie is jealous of me？〃 I asked incredulously。 I tried to imagine a
universe in which someone as breathtaking as Rosalie would have any
possible reason to feel jealous of someone like me。
〃You're human。〃 He shrugged。 〃She wishes that she were； too。〃
〃Oh；〃 I muttered； still stunned。 〃Even Jasper； though…〃
〃That's really my fault；〃 he said。 〃I told you he was the most recent to
try our way of life。 I warned him to keep his distance。〃
I thought about the reason for that； and shuddered。